To remove any possible doubt, we are taking the unprecedented step of publishing the pictures of Emmanuel Ononiwu taken from his place of isolation at Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, Amachara.
Ordinarily, we wouldn’t want to do this because of medical privacy issues but due to the public interest generated by his ill-advised personal decision to bolt from a holding location after testing positive to COVID-19, it is of overriding public interest that we pictorially confirm he is in medical isolation and no longer constitutes a public health risk.
According to the Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, Mr Ononiwu is being well taken care of and will not suffer any further consequences for his initial lack of good judgement which possibly happened because he was scared. Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has personally directed the medical management team of the inter-ministerial committee on COVID-19 to avail him of the best possible care with a view to ensuring that he recovers fully as soon as possible.
Contract tracing is in full swing.
We strongly urge our people to end the stigmatization of COVID-19 patients as that act is mostly responsible for the fear to report suspected cases and accept test results. COVID-19 is not a death sentence and many are recovering from it including 5 persons already discharged from our Isolation centre located at Amachara and two others discharged from FMC Umuahia.
Members of our medical response team are well trained to handle issues around the disease from sample collection all the way through patients’ management to full recovery. Most importantly, God is faithful to the good people of Abia State and will see us through this trying period and going forward.
COVID-19 is REAL but you can help protect yourself and family members by abiding by all the issued guidelines including the compulsory wearing of face mask before leaving your home, washing your hands regularly with soap under running water and maintaining social distance.
